Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro broke in to the country’s congressional building, Supreme Court and presidential palace Sunday.
Police have since cleared the massive crowds from government buildings and made at least 400 arrests, according to CNN Brasil and a local official.
The breaches come about a week after the inauguration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in a runoff election on Oct. 30.
Bolsonaro challenged the election results and has not explicitly conceded, though he said he would cooperate with the transition of power.
UN secretary general condemns “assault on Brazil’s democratic institutions”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres joined other world leaders Sunday in condemning the Bolsonaro supporters’ breach of Brazil’s Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace:
Bolsonaro denounces his supporters’ storming of government buildings
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro denounced the “depredations and invasions of public buildings” in Brasília, after his supporters stormed key government buildings Sunday.
Police say they have since cleared the crowds from the country’s Supreme Court, the presidential palace and the congressional building.
Bolsonaro tweeted that “peaceful demonstrations, respecting the law, are part of democracy.”
“However, depredations and invasions of public buildings as occurred today, as well as those practiced by the left in 2013 and 2017, escape the rule,” he continued. “Throughout my mandate, I have always been acting according to the Constitution, respecting and defending the laws, democracy, transparency and our sacred freedom.”
Some context: While Bolsonaro has said he would cooperate with the peaceful transition of power, he has also declined to explicitly concede his election loss in October.
The election came amid a tense and polarized political climate in Brazil, which has been struggling with high inflation, limited growth and rising poverty.
In the weeks since Bolsonaro’s loss, thousands of his supporters have gathered at military barracks across the country, asking the army to step in as they claim, with no evidence, that the election was stolen.
Police arrest at least 400 people after the storming of government buildings, governor says
At least 400 people have been arrested after pro-Bolsonaro supporters stormed key government buildings in Brazil’s capital, said Ibaneis Rocha, the governor of the country’s Federal District.
Rocha tweeted that those arrested “will pay for the crimes committed.”
“We continue working to identify all the others who participated in these terrorist acts this afternoon in the Federal District. We continue to work to restore order,” Rocha added.
Brazil’s capital, Brasília, is part of the Federal District. It is home to the country’s Congress and Supreme Court buildings, and the presidential palace, which were all stormed Sunday.
Police: Officers have cleared Brazilian government buildings of protesters and made about 170 arrests
The three main government buildings — the Supreme Court, the presidential palace and the congressional building — involved in today’s breach have been cleared of protesters, police said Sunday, according to CNN Brasil.
At least 170 people have been arrested since pro-Bolsonaro supporters stormed the building, CNN Brasil reports, citing Federal District Civil Police.
A senior government official vowed to punish those involved.
“I’m in the field, walking on the streets and personally commanding the security forces, fulfilling the mission I received from the President of the Republic. Nobody will go unpunished. The democratic rule of law will not be walled up by criminals,” Executive Secretary of the Brazilian Justice Minister Ricardo Cappelli said.
Bolsonaro’s party calls it a “sad day for Brazilian nation” after supporters storm government buildings
“Today is sad day for the Brazilian nation,” Valdemar Costa Neto, head of Jair Bolsonaro´s right-wing Liberal Party, said in a statement after pro-Bolsonaro supporters broke into key government buildings.
“We cannot agree with the depredation of the National Congress. All ordered manifestations are legitimate,” the statement continues. “Disorder has never been part of the principles of our nation. I want to say to you that we strongly condemn this type of attitude. And that the law must be fulfilled, strengthening our democracy.”
Some context: While the party’s candidate has said he would cooperate with the peaceful transition of power, he has also declined to explicitly concede his election loss in October.
The election came amid a tense and polarized political climate in Brazil, which has been struggling with high inflation, limited growth and rising poverty.
In the weeks since Bolsonaro’s loss, thousands of his supporters have gathered at military barracks across the country, asking the army to step in as they claim, with no evidence, that the election was stolen.
(Source CNN )
